Hinge mechanism for a computing device

ABSTRACT

Examples disclosed herein provide a hinge mechanism to couple housings of a computing device. As an example, the hinge mechanism includes a first guide rail fixed to a first housing of the computing device, a second guide rail fixed to a second housing of the computing device, and an intermediate guide rail to connect the first and second guide rails to each other. As an example, the hinge mechanism includes clamping brackets to hold the first, second, and immediate guide rails together and apply rotational friction to the hinge mechanism so that the first and second housings can be positioned at various angles with respect to each other.

BACKGROUND

The emergence and popularity of mobile computing has made portablecomputing devices, due to their compact design and light weight, astaple in today's marketplace. Within the mobile computing realm,notebook computers, or laptops, are one of the most widely used devicesand generally employ a clamshell-type design consisting of two membersconnected together at a common end. In most cases, a first or displaymember is utilized to provide a viewable display to a user while asecond or base member includes an area for user input (e.g., touchpadand keyboard). In addition, the viewable display may be a touchscreen(e.g., touchscreen laptop), allowing the user to interact directly withwhat is displayed by touching the screen with simple or multi-touchgestures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a hinge mechanism of a computing device, according toan example;

FIG. 2 illustrates various components of the hinge mechanism, accordingto an example; and

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate various views of the hinge mechanism, according toan example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many form factors exist for notebook computers. A common form factorincludes hinges that connect the two members of the clamshell-typedesign at the common end. A challenge faced by manufacturers of notebookcomputers is allowing for clearance of the hinges or other moving partsas the notebook computer is opened and closed, without having to give upmuch space from the base member or display member to accommodate thehinges.

Examples disclosed herein provide a hinge mechanism for a computingdevice, such as a notebook computer, with a virtual pivot axis, whichallows for the hinge mechanism to be concealed within the base member ofthe notebook computer, and then emerge when the notebook computer isopened. The hinge mechanism may allow for the base member and thedisplay member of the notebook computer to be mounted flush against eachother, without the need for large gaps or cuts in adjacent surfaces ofthe members to accommodate the hinge mechanism.

With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a hinge mechanism 100of a computing device, such as a notebook computer, according to anexample. The computing device includes a base member 104 and a displaymember 102 that may be joined together via the hinge mechanism 100. Asan example, the base member 104 includes an area for user input, such asa touchpad and a keyboard. The display member 102 includes a displayscreen for viewing the video output of the computing device, and mayinclude input means for operation by a user, such as a touchscreen(e.g., the display screen may be the touchscreen). Although only onehinge mechanism 100 is illustrated, the computing device may include anynumber of similar hinge mechanisms 100 along the common end shared bythe display member 102 and base member 104.

Referring to FIG. 1, the hinge mechanism 100 may include a hinge cap 112to cover the components of the hinge mechanism 100, as will be furtherdescribed. In addition, the hinge cap 112 may contain any electricalcables that have to pass through the hinge mechanism 100. As an example,the hinge cap 112 can be attached to either the display member 102 orthe base member 104, or can float between the two members 102, 104. Inthe floating mode, the start and end points of the hinge cap 112 may becontrolled by the angular positions of the display member 102 and/orbase member 104. As illustrated, the hinge mechanism 100 has a virtualpivot axis 132 outside of the computing device that moves in a rotarymotion. As will be further described, this virtual pivot axis 132 allowsthe hinge mechanism 100 to be hidden with the base member 104 of thecomputing device. For example, the base member 104 includes an opening101 for accommodating and concealing the hinge mechanism 100 when thenotebook computer is closed.

FIG. 2 illustrates various components of the hinge mechanism 100,according to an example. The hinge mechanism 100 includes a number oftelescoping concentric guide rails that allows the display panel 102 torotate to an open angle that is larger than single guide rail couldallow. As illustrated, the hinge mechanism 100 generally includes afirst guide rail 106 fixed to a first housing of the computing device100, such as the display member 102, and a second guide rail 108 fixedto a second housing of the computing device, such as the base member104. Between the first and second guide rails 106, 108 is anintermediate guide rail 110 to connect the first and second guide rails106, 108 to each other. The intermediate guide rail 110 splits the openangle of the other two guide rails 106, 108 and floats between the two.Further, as the notebook computer is opened and closed, the first guiderail 106 and the second guide rail 108 will pass each other, with onlythe intermediate guide rail 110 connecting them.

As will be further described, the hinge mechanism 100 may incorporatehard stops features that prevent over rotation of the guide rails 106,108, 110. As an example, the hinge mechanism may include additionalintermediate guide rails to provide additional support for the hingemechanism 100 or to cover larger open angles. As an example, the guiderails 106, 108, 110 are held together by clamping brackets 114, whichalso applies rotational friction to the hinge mechanism 100, so thedisplay member 102 can be positioned at any angle. As illustrated, thehinge cap 112 covers the first, second, and intermediate guide rails106, 108, 110, for example, to conceal the inner workings of the hingemechanism 100.

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate various views of the hinge mechanism 100,according to an example. As illustrated, the first and second guiderails 106, 108 are concentric by sharing the same axis (e.g., seevirtual pivot axis 132 in FIGS. 1 and 2), and fit with the intermediateguide rail 110 and slide one with another. As will be further described,the intermediate guide rail 110 splits the open angle of the first andsecond guide rails 106, 108, and floats between the two guide rails 106,108, with hard stop features that prevents over rotation of the twoguide rails 106, 108.

As an example, in order for the first and second guide rails 106, 108 tofit with the intermediate guide rail 110, the guide rails 106, 108, 110may include various features. As an example, protrusions of one guiderail may fit into a recess in an opposing guide rail. Referring to FIGS.3A-B, protrusion 116 of the intermediate guide rail 110 may fit intorecess 122 of the first guide rail 106, and protrusions 118 may fit intorecess 120 of the second guide rail 108. Although only one side of theguide rails 106, 108, 110 are described with the protrusions andrecesses, similar protrusions and recesses may be found on the otherside of the guide rails 106, 108, 110 as well, as illustrated. Althoughthe protrusions and recesses illustrated are rectangular in shape, theprotrusions and recesses could be angled features and form more of adove tail fit between two guide rails.

As mentioned above, the hinge mechanism 100 may incorporate hard stopsfeatures that prevent over rotation of the guide rails 106, 108, 110.For example, referring to FIGS. 3A-B, in order to prevent over rotation,the intermediate guide rail 110 may include notches 128, 130 to comeinto contact with another notch of an opposing guide rail, such as withnotches of the first and/or second guide rail 106, 108. Referring toFIG. 3A, the hinge mechanism 100 is positioned in a closed position,where the computing device illustrated in FIG. 1 is in a closed positionand the hinge mechanism is concealed within the base member 104 of thecomputing device, for example, via opening 101. As illustrated, notch128 may come in contact with notch 124 of the first guide rail 106, andnotch 130 may come in contact with a notch of the second guide rail (notillustrated). As a result, the hinge mechanism cannot be rotated anyfurther as the computing device is placed in the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the hinge mechanism 100 is in an opened position,for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2. In order to limit how far thedisplay member 102 is opened, the notches described above may also beutilized. For example, once notch 130 of the intermediate guide rail 110comes in contact with notch 126 of the second guide rail 108, and notch128 of the intermediate guide rail 110 comes in contact with notch 124of the first guide rail 106 (not illustrated), the display member 102may not be rotated open any further.

Referring to FIG. 3C, the hinge cap 112 of the hinge mechanism 100 isremoved in order to reveal the clamping bracket 114. As mentioned above,the clamping bracket 114 holds the guide rails 106, 108, 110 together,and also applies rotational friction to the hinge mechanism 100, so thedisplay member 102 can be positioned at any angle. For example, the theclamping bracket 114 may provide a level of resistance to a torqueprovided when opening or closing the display member 102. As an example,the tension provided by the clamping bracket 114, to hold the guiderails 106, 108, 110 together, may be at a certain level in order toprovide the sufficient friction so the display member 102 can bepositioned at any angle without falling backwards while the computingdevice is being used.

As an example, there may be a small assembly gap between the guide rails106, 108, 110 that contain either grease or a viscous fluid to controlthe feel of the guide rails 106, 108, 110 as they slide together andprevent material wear. To control this gap and reduce slop in the hingemechanism 100, one or more of the guide rails 106, 108, 110 may be madeslightly off concentricity as compared to the other guide rails 106,108, 110, so that there is an interference fit. As an example, the guiderails made slightly off concentricity may be made of slightly moreforgiving material, allowing it to deform slightly, taking up the gaptolerance between the guide rails. As an example, it may be possible toadd secondary wear bumps in this area, to accomplish the sameinterference fit, or add small spring fingers to bias the guide rails106, 108, 110 against each other in one direction.

It is appreciated that examples described herein below may includevarious components and features. It is also appreciated that, in thefollowing description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it isappreciated that the examples may be practiced without limitations tothese specific details. In other instances, well known methods andstructures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the description of the examples. Also, the examples may beused in combination with each other.

Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language meansthat a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described inconnection with the example is included in at least one example, but notnecessarily in other examples. The various instances of the phrase “inone example” or similar phrases in various places in the specificationare not necessarily all referring to the same example.

It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosedexamples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make oruse the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other examples withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples shown hereinbut is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principlesand novel features disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hinge mechanism to couple a display member anda base member of a computing device, the hinge mechanism comprising: afirst guide rail fixed to the display member of the computing device; asecond guide rail fixed to the base member of the computing device; anintermediate guide rail to connect the first guide rail and the secondguide rail to each other, wherein the first guide rail and the secondguide rail are concentric and fit with the intermediate guide rail andslide one with another telescopically in a circular direction; and aclamping bracket to hold the first guide rail, the second guide rail,and the immediate guide rail together and apply rotational friction tothe hinge mechanism so that the display member and the base member canbe positioned at various angles with respect to each other.
 2. The hingemechanism of claim 1, comprising additional intermediate guide rails toconnect the first guide rail and the second guide rail, wherein theadditional intermediate guide rails allow for the display member and thebase member to be positioned at even greater angles with respect to eachother.
 3. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first guide railand the second guide rail fitting with the intermediate guide railcomprises a protrusion of one guide rail fitting into a recess in anopposing guide rail.
 4. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, comprising hardstop features to prevent over rotation of the display member and thebase member with respect to each other.
 5. The hinge mechanism of claim4, wherein the hard stop features comprise a notch of one guide railcoming into contact with another notch of an opposing guide rail.
 6. Thehinge mechanism of claim 1, comprising grease or viscous fluid toprevent material wear as the display member and the base member arerotated with respect to each other.
 7. The hinge mechanism of claim 1,comprising a hinge cap to cover the first, second, and intermediateguide rails.
 8. A computing device comprising: a display member; a basemember; and a hinge mechanism to pivotally connect the display and basemembers, the hinge mechanism comprising: a first guide rail fixed to thedisplay member; a second guide rail fixed to the base member; anintermediate guide rail to connect the first guide rail and the secondguide rail to each other, wherein the first guide rail and the secondguide rail are concentric and fit with the intermediate guide rail andslide one with another telescopically in a circular direction; and aclamping bracket to hold the first guide rail, the second guide rail,and the immediate guide rail together and apply rotational friction tothe hinge mechanism so that the display member can be positioned atvarious angles with respect to the base member.
 9. The computing deviceof claim 8, comprising additional intermediate guide rails to connectthe first guide rail and the second guide rail, wherein the additionalintermediate guide rails allow for the display and base members to bepositioned at even greater angles with respect to each other.
 10. Thecomputing device of claim 8, wherein the first guide rail and the secondguide rail fitting with the intermediate guide rail comprises aprotrusion of one guide rail fitting into a recess in an opposing guiderail.
 11. The computing device of claim 8, comprising a hinge cap tocover the first, second, and intermediate guide rails.